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The Grovemade wrist rest has been updated to perfectly match Apple’s latest Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. Available in multiple wood finishes, they will classify your desk setup with ease.
If you’ve never seen gear from Grovemade, the company focuses on natural materials and old-fashioned craftsmanship. May products are finished or made by hand rather than being mass produced abroad.
Many of its products are aimed at Apple users, with a custom kit made to match Apple’s gear. There is a stand for MagSafe, docks for iPhone and trays for the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad.
We’re looking at a wood and leather wrist rest made to complement Apple’s Magic Keyboard with a numeric keypad and Touch ID. Apple didn’t release these keyboards until August 2021.
Attention to detail
These products clearly feel Apple-esque. They are intricately designed with every detail carefully examined.
Grovemade’s wrist rest is made from American black walnut or oriental hard rock maple. Both look great, but we’re a fan of the darker tone of the walnut. Plus, it matches the walnut coasters and planters we already have on our desks.
The wood is cut to size before being hand sanded to a smooth finish. A panel of premium vegetable-tanned leather is inlaid in the wood.
The leather – available in black or brown based on your choice of wood – provides a soft, raised surface for your wrists.
The wrist rest gives a little, making it more comfortable than sitting with your wrists directly on your desk. Being slightly raised, it also reduces the strain on your wrists as you type.
Under the wood is a layer of aluminum that gives the piece some stiffness. It is slightly visible from the outside and contrasts with the matte finish of the wood.
To finish it off, there is a base of natural cork. This prevents the rest from sliding across your desk, but is more natural than a molded rubber or silicone plate.
Using
We’ve been using the Grovemade wrist rest with our Mac Studio for weeks. We’ve paired it with the new black-and-silver version of Apple’s latest desktop peripherals.
Apple’s keyboard is quite flat and after many hours of typing there are times when we feel the fatigue in our wrists. We have never experienced that with the Grovemade accessory.
We’ve tried many of those gel-filled soft wrist rests in the past, but they get dirty, don’t look great, and break down over time. The Grovemade wrist rest only gets better with age.
The leather will begin to develop a patina in the areas where you come into contact with it, creating a pattern unique to you. The leather will never flake and it will last for many years without any problems.
As is often the case, you can find a much more affordable product than this, but it won’t match Apple’s keyboard size, nor will it have the quality to last a lifetime.
One downside to this is that it can get in the way when you’re eating at your desk. We know – eating near your keyboard is a deadly sin. But there are still times when we are in a rush or just grab a quick snack at our desk, and we have to do it.
Instead, we’ll have to move our palm rest to the side to get some space. The same goes for opening packages and viewing review products in that space in front of our keyboard.
However, this is probably a worthwhile trade-off. Placing something that can relieve wrist strain versus making room for snacks seems like the wise choice.
Should you buy the Grovemade wrist rest?
A wrist rest is a common accessory to add to your desk, and Grovemade happens to make the prettiest we’ve ever tested.
We always value handmade accessories and US-based brands. But that comes with a price – literally.
For the version with the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, it will cost you $100. If you want a smaller one for the Magic Trackpad, that will only set you back $50.
If you want a product as polished as Apple’s hardware, Grovemade has you covered. If you’d rather save some money on a cheaper option, we wouldn’t judge you for a moment.
High quality materials Handmade in the USA Comfortable and ergonomic to use Light and dark color options Custom designed to match Apple peripherals Expensive addition to your desk setup
Rating: 4 out of 5
Where to buy
You can buy the Grovemade Wrist Rest for Apple’s Magic Trackpad, Magic Keyboard or Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad starting at $50.
This post Grovemade wood & leather wrist rest review: a comfortable and elegant addition to your desk
was original published at “https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/04/16/grovemade-wood-leather-wrist-rest-review-a-comfortable-and-elegant-addition-to-your-desk?utm_medium=rss”
